Method and apparatus for opening, cleaning, and blending lint cotton and the like



Sept. 27, 1955 A sM 2,718,671

METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR OPENING, CLEANING AND BLENDING LINT COTTON ANDTHE LIKE Filed Feb. 2, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 E a5 I I? IF 3? m 34 co; 1e yr m z in L -51 l QT M H H I1 1 l r 3: 2 I 5 2 I] I H; (H /6 ll IN VENTOR. HZ ffi/VO/V 4. SM/TH BYW/KM Sept. 27, 1955 1 SMITH 2,718,671

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPENING, CLEANING O AND BLENDING LINT COTTONAND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 2, 1950 3 ShGBtS-ShGt 2 INVENTOR 04 gems/01v 4.5mm! Fig 4, BY

ATTORNEYS p 1955 A. L. SMITH 2,718,671

' METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPENING, CLEANING AND BLENDING LINT COTTONAND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 2, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 47 INVENTOR 4 1% 6 0m4. SMITH BY W ATTORNEYS United States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUS FOROPENING,

CLEANING, AND BLENDING LINT COT- TON AND THE LIKE Algernon L. Smith,Birmingham, Ala., assignor to Continental Gin Company, a corporation ofDelaware Application February 2, 1950, Serial No. 141,896

1 Claim. (Cl. 19-146) My present invention relates to a method andapparatus for blending lint cotton, and also as preliminary steps in theprocess of blending, to the opening and cleaning of such cotton, and hasfor an object the provision of a method and apparatus of the characterdesignated which shall be effective to open, clean and blend togetherlint cotton from a plurality of sources, such for instance as from aplurality of bales, in order to obtain an equal and efiicientcommingling or blending of lint from the separate sources, thusobtaining a uniform sample preparatory to utilizing the cotton infurther processes, for instance in making yarn therefrom.

In the art to which my invention relates, it is well known that priormethods and apparatus for blending lint cotton and similar fibers fromdifferent sources to obtain a uniform sample preparatory to carding andspinning the same are in general unsatisfactory. Among some of thedeficiencies of such prior blending methods and apparatus may be recitedthe difficulty in physically separating the fibers from a bale intocondition for blending with other fibers; the difficulty of bringingstreams of cotton from separate sources into a common apparatus in thecorrect proportions from each source to effect the quality and degree ofblending desired; the necessity of subjecting the cotton to repeatedbeating, agitating and cleaning steps in the apparatus employed, whichtreatments cause damage to the fiber which manifests itself in reducingthe quality and strength of the finished yarn made from such cotton; andthe inability of removing from the lint cotton small wads or tangledmasses of fibers which lower the grade of the yarn, particularly ifpresent in yarn or cloth made therefrom which is to be dyed.

It is the prime object of my invention to overcome the above and otherdifliculties and deficiencies of prior opening, cleaning and blendingmethods and apparatus and to provide a method and apparatus of thecharacter designated wherein cotton or similar fibers from differentbales or like sources is first loosened and decompressed and entrainedin separate streams of air, and then, while in such loose, highlyseparated and air borne state, introduced into a common mixing flue orduct where the streams are intimately intermixed and blended and finallycondensed again to a form suitable for subsequent operations, such ascarding and spinning.

My invention contemplates a method of opening, cleaning and blendingcotton from a plurality of sources which comprises the steps of openingthe cotton to the extent of making the same capable of being borne alongby entraining the cotton in separate streams of air, cleaning the cottonwhile in such air borne state, condensing the cotton, cleaning thecotton a second time and in the second cleaning operation againseparating the fibers so as to make them capable of being borne away bya stream of air, and in introducing such last named air-borne streamsinto a common flue in such manner that intimate mixing and blending ofthe streams takes place in the flue.

My invention contemplates a method of the character just described inwhich the streams of air-borne lint are introduced tangentially into acylindrical closed space, such for instance as an elongated lint flue,thereby aiding in the blending action by bringing the separate streamstogether with a whirling motion thereby further agitating the air bornecotton while in the closed space or flue, thus to assure completeintermixing thereof.

A further object is to open, clean and blend cotton and the like by aseries of treatments which comprises first opening the cotton from eachbale, reducing the baled fibers to bat form, passing the bats of cottonover a saw cylinder having a doffing means associated therewith therebyto clean the cotton a first time and entrain it in a stream of air,condensing the cotton and passing the same in bat form over a second sawcylinder having associated therewith a doffing means capable of removingthe cotton therefrom in an air-borne stream, introducing a plurality ofsuch air-borne streams of cotton into a common lint flue or duct wherebythe fibers fromindividual air-borne streams are evenly mixed, andfinally, in condensing the mixed air-borne cotton in the lint flue.

My invention contemplates apparatus for opening and cleaning cotton froma plurality of bales together with a common lint flue or duct into whichthe separate airborne streams of opened and cleaned cotton areintroduced at spaced points along the length thereof for blending, andmeans at the discharge end of the duct to condense the blended fibersfor subsequent operations.

A further object of my invention is to provide apparatus of thecharacter designated which shall be economical of construction andoperation, compact and elficient and which shall open and clean cottonand blend the same with a minimum of damage to the fibers, thusmaintaining the quality of the staple and increasing the value thereoffor yarn making purposes by affording an adequate blending of fibersfrom different bales.

Apparatus illustrating the constructional features of my invention andwhich also is suitable for carrying out my improved method isillustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisapplication in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of my improved opening, cleaning andblending apparatus;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along line IIIIII ofFig. 1 and illustrating a form of opening machine suitable for use in myimproved method and apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken generally along line IV1V ofFig. 1 and illustrating a form of combined opening and cleaningapparatus which I preferably use as a part of my improved apparatus;Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken generally along line VV andshowing in vertical sectional elevation a form of cleaning apparatuswhich I prefer to use as a part of my improved apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view through the lint mixing and blendingflue, taken generally along line VIVI of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a fragmental plan view corresponding to a portion of theapparatus shown in Fig. 1 and illustrating the addition thereto of amotor driven mixing roller disposed in the lint flue;

Fig. 8 is a view corresponding to Fig. 7 and showing the addition of asecond cotton opening unit and condenser adjacent the discharge end ofthe lint flue; and

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic sectional view taken along line IX--IX of Fig.8 and illustrating a suitable form of apparatus for opening the cotton asecond time after the first opening, cleaning and condensing operation.

Referring. now to the drawings for a better understanding of myinvention, and more particularly to Figs. 1 through 6, inclusive, myimproved apparatus comprises a plurality of rows of cotton openingmachines 10, opening and cleaning machines 11, and cleaning machines 12.As will more clearly appear hereinafter cotton from a given bale is fedinto the machine 18 of each row and is delivered from machine 12 thereofin an air borne stream. Each of the individual air-borne streams ofcotton are introduced through lint delivery flues or conduits 13 into acommon mixing and blending lint flue indicated at 14.

As best illustrated in Fig. 3 the machine 10 comprises a hopper 16having at the bottom thereof a feed belt 17 carrying slats 18. Thehopper 16 may be of a size to hold a bale of cotton, the belt 17 andslats 18 serving to feed layers of the same inwardly of the apparatus.Adjacent the inner end of the belt 17 is an upwardly inclined belt 19carrying spikes 21. Cotton from the bale is carried up the inclined belt19. At the upper end of the belt 19 is a second horizontally disposedspiked belt 22 which serves the purpose of knocking back into the bottomof the apparatus unusually large wads or lumps of cotton. Cotton on theend of the belt 21 is doffed therefrom by means of a dofiing cylinder 23carrying dofling blades 24. The cotton falls onto a screen 26 afterbeing dotfed from the belt 21, which aids in cleaningthe same.

Cotton from the opening machine 10 is delivered onto the lower belt 27of the combined cotton opening and cleaning machine 11. This machine ispreferably of the type shown, described and claimed in the co-pendingapplication of Eugene H. Brooks, Serial No. 28,805, filed May 24, 1948,subject Apparatus for Opening and Cleaning Lint Cotton, and which hasmatured into Patent No. 2,576,280. In the manner disclosed in saidco-pending application, the machine 11 has at the discharge end of thebelt 27 a plurality of rollers 28 and 29, suitably driven with theadjacent surfaces thereof rotating in the same direction. Cotton fromthe belt 27 is received at the lower end of the groups of rollers and isengaged upon being discharged from the uppermost rollers by a rotatingsaw cylinder 31. In this operation the saw cylinder separates the fibersinto a very fine state, each tooth drawing from the cotton between therolls 28 and 29 a relatively few fibers. In the manner disclosed in saidco-pending application the cotton is fed in bat form through the rolls28 and 29.

Cooperating with the saw cylinder 31 is a dofling means such as a brushcylinder 32 Which, as fully explained in said application, doffs thecotton from the saw cylinder and discharges the same in an air-bornestream through a discharge conduit or lint duct 33.

The cleaning machine 12 preferably is of the type shown, described andclaimed in Brooks Patent Re. 23,044, issued October 19, 1948. Thismachine embodies a housing 34 having mounted for rotation therein a sawcylinder 36. A doffing means is associated with the saw cylinder, andwhile the same may comprise any suitable doffing means such as an airblast nozzle or the like, I preferably employ a doffing brush cylinderindicated at 37. Immediately above the saw cylinder 36 is a pair ofclosely spaced driven rollers 38.

Mounted in any suitable manner above the rollers 38 is a condenserhaving a housing 39, a foraminous drum 41, and rollers 42. Cottondelivered from the duct 33 of the machine 11 is delivered subsequentlyto the condenser, condensed into a thin uniform bat, and fed to the sawcylinder 36 between the rollers 38. Associated with the saw cylinder 36are a plurality of cleaning bars which the cotton strikes as it iscarried around by the saw cylinder, thus knocking out of the same trashand the like entangled therewith. Such trash may be removed from thebottom of, the hopper by means of any suitable form of conveyor such asa screw conveyor 43, and if desired a blower 44 may be provided in thehousing to maintain a low velocity flow of air through the housing,

thus to convey away light trash and dust dislodged from the cotton.

Referring again to Figs. 1, 2 and 6 of the drawings, cotton from aplurality of bales enters the hoppers 16 of the machines 10, passestherefrom to the machines 11 where it is opened and cleaned a first timeto some extent. Cotton leaving the machines 11 is in the form of an airborne stream. After being condensed and fed through the cleaningmachines 12 the cotton enters the lint delivery flues 13 which areconnected to the common lint flue 14.

As more clearly shown in Fig. 6, I preferably connect the ducts 13 ofeach pair of machines tangentially to the common flue 14 and direct themsubstantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the flue 14. In thisway I bring the air borne streams of cotton from oppositely disposedrows of machines into the lint flue 14 in such manner as to create awhirling action as indicated by the arrows, Fig. 6. Likewise, Ipreferably connect the pairs of ducts 13 to the flue 14 so that asviewed in plan the pairs are directed substantially oppositely. Thistangential and opposite connection of ducts 13 aids in intimatelyintermixing and blending the fibers from oppositely disposed rows ofmachines. As the cotton moves down the duct toward the discharge endthereof as indicated by the arrows, Fig. 1, the streams from theprevious rows of machines mix with the cotton from subsequent rowsthereof, thus effecting an intermixing of the previously blended streamsand the subsequently introduced streams. At the end of the duct 14 Iprovide some means to condense the cotton, for instance a relativelylarge capacity condenser indicated by the numeral 46, which asunderstood may embody a foraminous drum and may embody suction fansindicated at 46a. From the condenser 46 the cotton passes as a bat,indicated by the numeral 47, to

subsequent machines, for instance, directly to cards or the like, notshown.

In Fig. 7 I show a slightly modified form of my invention in which Iplace in the lint flue 14, just ahead of the condenser 46, a roller 48.The roller 48 may have on the periphery thereof a plurality of spikes 49and may be driven by means of a motor 51 or the like, The purpose ofthis roller is to further agitate and mix the longitudinally moving lintstream in the flue 14 just previous to the last condensing thereof.

In Fig. 8 I show a still further modified form in which the cotton fromthe condenser 46 is passed to a machine 50 which opens the cotton againprior to the final condensing thereof. As best shown in Figs. 8 and 9,cotton from the condenser 46 passes between a pair of rollers 52 and 53,driven by any suitable means, not shown, with adjacent surfaces movingin the same direction. Beneath the rollers 52 and 53 is a driven sawcylinder 54 having a dofiing brush 56 associated therewith. A duct 57leads from the machine 50 to still another of the condensers 46. Cottonwhich has been opened, cleaned and condensed can then, by thismodification of my invention, be again opened prior to the finalcondensing operation. I thus attain still further mixing and blendingafter the separate streams have been mixed and blended in the lint flue14.

From the foregoing the method of operation of my improved system andapparatus may be clearly understood. With the rows of machinesdelivering cotton from individual bales into the common flue 14, the airborne streams thereof are subjected to intimate intermixing both at thepoint of entry of the pairs of streams into opposite sides of the lintflue 14 and at the points where such cornmingled streams come intocontact with subsequent pairs of tangentially introduced pairs ofstreams. The combined swirling and longitudinal motion of the severalstreams affords excellent intermixing of the fibers. It will be apparentthat the air borne streams of cotton moving longitudinally along theflue l4 and which have been previously intermixed, upon coming intocontact with the subsequent tangentially introduced streams of cottonare thoroughly agitated and mixed together. Due to the fact that I firstfinely divide the cotton and entrain the same from each bale in an airstream, intermixing is comparatively easily eflected and issubstantially complete. Thus, a sample of cotton removed from thecondenser 46 or 46a is in fact a composite sample of all of theindividual streams of cotton introduced into the lint flue 14.

Aside from the advantages of mixing cotton from separate sources in thecommon lint flue, which is the prime object and advantage of myinvention, I can, through the use of the particular method and apparatusdescribed and operated in the manner disclosed, also clean cotton in acotton mill opening room without the necessity of subjecting it to therepeated beating actions heretofore employed. I thus eliminate aconsiderable amount of the damage heretofore done to the fibers andremove therefrom a far greater amount of dirt, trash, motes and the likefrom the cotton. In the manner disclosed in the above mentionedco-pending application and patent, the saw cylinders of the machines 11and 12 together with the dofiing means therefor and cleaning bars areeffective to remove from the cotton a very large percentage of the dirt,motes, trash and the like found therein. Due to the nature of theapparatus employed and to the arrangement of the same in the alignedrows on opposite sides of the flue 14, my improved apparatus is compact.In this connection it will be understood that if desired the rows ofmachines may be placed on one side only of the common lint flue 14, thusmaintaining all of the primary advantages of my invention except theadded mixing action of the oppositely introduced lint streams. Thecapacity of my improved apparatus is entirely adequate both for thenumber of machines employed and the space required therefor. It will beapparent that my improved blending method and apparatus may be employedfor blending fibers other than cotton, or may be employed to blendcotton fibers from sources other than from bales, if desired.

While I have shown a plurality of rows of the several machines formingparts of my improved apparatus, it will be apparent that the same hasutility in the provision of but a single pair of rows of the same,namely a pair of rows thereof including one each of the machines 10, 11and 12 together with a lint flue 14, and that these may be disposed on acommon side of the flue 14. Likewise, while I have stated that I preferto introduce the air borne streams of cotton from the machines 12tangentially and in opposition to each other into the lint flue 14, itis possible that other means such as baflles in the lint flue 14 may beused for effecting intermixing of the air borne streams within the lintflue 14. Further, since the several machines of each row may be ofsubstantially identical capacity of the corresponding machine of theother rows, I am enabled to introduce substantially equal quantities offibers from each bale into the lint flue 14. I thus obtain not only anintimate mixing of the fibers in the flue 14 but also such mixing is ofequal quantities of fibers from the several sources.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised an improvedmethod and apparatus for opening, cleaning and blending lint cottonwhich is fully effective for its intended purpose, and which iseconomical of construction and operation and compact.

While I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptibleof various other changes and modifications, without departing from thespirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitationsshall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appendedclaim.

What I claim is:

In apparatus for blending lint cotton and the like from a plurality ofsources, an elongated lint flue, a plurality of substantially parallelspaced apart rows of cotton opening and cotton cleaning machinesdisposed side by side and on opposite sides of the elongated lint flue,each of said rows of machines being in longitudinal alignment with a rowon the opposite side of the elongated lint flue, and lint delivery fluesconnecting the discharge of the cotton cleaning machines of the rows tothe elongated lint flue in substantially diametric opposition to thecorresponding discharge of the opposite row, a rotatable roller in thelint flue at a location thereon past the last place of delivery of lintthereto, and means to rotate the roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.23,044 Brooks Oct. 19, 1948 284,151 Williams Aug. 28, 1883 611,360Fordyce Sept. 27, 1898 1,092,857 Perham Apr. 14, 1914 1,346,828 KidoJuly 20, 1920 1,589,427 Rogers June 22, 1926 2,014,844 Holt Sept. 17,1935 1 2,090,955 Taylor Aug. 24, 1937 2,129,312 Streun Sept. 6, 19382,229,391 Rogers et al. Jan. 21, 1941 2,313,256 Morgan Mar. 9, 1943FOREIGN PATENTS 200,717 Great Britain July 19, 1923 247,079 GreatBritain Feb. 11, 1926

